Series cut-out



Jan. l, 1929. 1,696,931

, P. F. WILLIAMS SERIES CUT-OUT Filed May 16, 1925 @una f" JE "1' E Z1 Z5 (IE-Z166@ Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

UNITED gSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL F. WILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G. & W. ELECTRIC SPECIALTY CO., 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

SERIES CUT-OUT.

Application filed May 16', 1925.

This invention relates to a series cut-out.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, reliable and eliicient series cut-out in which all four cable leads are on one body, whereby the device, complete with all the leads, can be assembled at the factory.

Another object is to provide a series cutout in which all of the tour cable leads are assembled within a single body in a simple and efficient manner to fully protect said leads.

Another obj ect is to provide a series cut-out in which t-he arrangement of the terminals and contacts is improved, and the means for making and breaking circuits also is improved.

Another object is to provide a series cut-out arrangement which is adapted to meet all of the requirements `under service conditions.

These and .other objects are accomplished by means ot the arrangement. disclosed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through my improved series cut-out;

Fig. 2 is a. vertical sectional view through the same cut-out taken inthe plane ot line `2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but showing an insulating handle inserted between the main cable contacts for separating the same and forcing them into engagement with associated lamp porcelain, having a top wall 11, two side walls 12 and two side walls 13, the bottom ot the body being left open for the vpurpose ot permitting the tour cable leads to be looped up through .the-,open bottom and extended into said body for protecting said cable leads The two main cable leads are shown at 14. and

the twol lamp `cable leads are shown at 15. Two lamp cable contacts 16 are provided, one being secured to each ot the side walls 12 by any suitable means, such as a screw 17, the

Serial N0. 30,765.

head of which may be set in a recess in the wall 12 and covered by an insulating plug 17. Each ot said lamp cable contacts is provided with a laterally extending portion 18,- to each of which a lamp cable lug or terminal 19 is secured by any suitable means, such as screws 20. The lamp cable leads 15 aresecured to the lugs in the usual manuel'. Two main cable contacts 21, in the form` ot' loops, and two associatedl auxiliary or arcing. contact-s 22 are secured to associated metal blocks 23, which metal blocks 23 and contacts 21 and 22 are secured as a. unit to the top 11 of the body by suitable fastening means 24, the head of which may be set in a recess in the top 11 and covered by an insulating plug 24. Each metal block 23 is provided with a laterallyextending portion 25, to which a main terminal lug k26 is secured byy screws 27, each main cable lead 14 being secured in t-he usual manner -to the associated cable lug 26. Referrin particularly to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the contacts 16, 21 and 22 arecentrally arranged main cable contacts 21 are in engagementwith each other, as also are the auxiliary orarcing contacts 22 tor completing a circuit from one main cable lead 14 through said contacts 21 and contacts 22 to the other cable lead 14, said circuit being around the lamp circuit, it being noted that the main cable contact-s 21 are out of vengagement with the lamp cab-le contacts 16. It it is desired to complete the lamp circuit, such is done by separat-ing the main cable contacts 21 and pressing them into engagement with. the `associated lamp cable contacts 16, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. In this connection it will be noted that an insu.- lating plug` 28, having a handle 29, is used,

1 the plug, when in position, passing upwardly between the main cable contacts 2l and auxiliary contacts 22 for separating said main contacts and auxiliary contacts and pressing said main cable contacts 21 into engagement with the lamp cable contacts 16. The insulating plug 28 passes through an elliptical guide opening formed in the main contacts 2l, it being noted that wing portions 3l on the contact-S721 form the actual inteiengaging portions for completing a circuit through said contacts 2l. Likewise the auxiliary conT tacts 22 are provided with guide opening 82 for the reception of the plug. Here again wing portions 33 on the auxiliary contacts forni the interengaging parts between said contacts.

It will be appreciated that in applying the plug 28 for completing a. circuit through a lamp, the plug first enters the opening 8O between the main contacts 2l, which opening is smaller than the plug, thereby separating the main contacts 2l and forcing them into engagement with the lamp contacts i6, thereby establishing a circuit through a lamp. Upon continued upward movement ot' the plug 28, the latter then separates the auxiliary contacts 22, but before said contacts have separated it will be understood that the lamp circuit has been completed and accordingly arcing is prevented. Upon' continued upward movement of the plug, its threaded end portion 34; passes into engagement with a threaded socket member 85, which is secured to the top wall of the body l0. By then rotat- Y ing the plug 28 on its verticalV axis it may be positively secured or locked in the position shown in Fig. 3. By thus looking the plug 28 in position, the. latter is prevented from accidentally falling from suchposition, and the circuit connections, as shown in Fig. 8, are maintained. Itter any reason it is desired to break the lamp circuit, for example, if trouble has arisen in such circuit, the plug 28 may beloosened from its position shown in Fig. 3 and` drawn downwardly, it 'being noted that the auxiliary or arcing contacts 22 first pass into engagement with each other before the main contacts 2l are permitted to disengage the lamp contacts 16 so that here again, a circuit is established'through the contacts 22 before the lamp circuit is broken, arcing in this manner being avoided. Located between the plug 28 and its handle 29 is an enlarged disk or shell portion 86, which protects the operators Vhand from passing into engagement with ythe contacts 2l. It, for any reason, the plug 28 becomes lost, any suitable stick may be used for performing the same function. Thehandle 29 ot the plug, however, is provided with an opening for the recept-ionof a chain, by means of which the plug may be secured to a suitable support, such as a. telegraph pole, or to the porcelain body l0. The porcelain body is provided with openings 38, through which bolts or attaching means may be passed for securing the .porcelain body in its proper position on a pole or other support.

I claim:

1. A series cut-out comprising an integral insulating body forming a housing accessible only from the bottom, and four cable lugs secured within said body whereby the corresponding cable leads may be looped up through the open bottom and into said body contacts secured to said body, all of said contacts being centrally arranged, and cable lugs electrically connected to said contacts, certain of said cable lugs extending to one side of said contacts and certain others or" said cable lugs extending to another side ot said contacts to provide clearance for cable leads to be secured to said lugs. v

insulating body forming a housing accessible only from the bot-toni, two cable lugs secured to the top or said body and twocable lugs secured to the sides of said body to provide clearance for the free passageV of cable leads to be secured to said lugs.

4. A series cut-out comprising a single body, four cable lugs secured to dilterent portions o't said body within the latter a pair or" said cable lugs being in a dii'erentplane than the other pair ot said cable lugs to provide clearance for the Vtree passage or cable leadsV to be connected to said cable lugs.

5. A series cut-out comprising a body hav-- ing an open bottom, two lamp cable contacts secured to said body, two main cable contacts secured to `said body on the opposite side thereof and means tending to be engaged to form a circuit around a lamp circuit, cable leads connected to said contacts entering said body through saidopen bottom and nieans for causing separation of said ifirst named means and causing engagement with said means and said associated lamp cable. contacts to complete the lamp circuit.

6. A series cut-out comprising a body hav ing an open bottom, two lamp cable contacts secured to said body, two main cable contact-s secured to said body on the opposite side thereof and means extending between said contact-s and tending to be engaged to'torin a circuit around a lamp circuit, cable leads connected to said contacts entering said body through said open bottom and means Jfor causing separation of said first named means and causing engagement between said means and said associated lamp cable contacts to complete the lamp circuit.

7. A series cut-out comprising a body having an open bottom, two lamp cable contacts secured to said body, two main cable contacts secured to said body in'orfset relation to said tirst nained contacts and tending to engage each other to form a circuit around a lamp circuit and extending between said lamp cable contacts, cable leads connected to said contacts entering said body through o. A. series cut-outcom risine` an integral said open bottom and mea-ns for spreading said main cable contacts and causing their engagement with said associated lamp cable contacts to complete the lamp circuit.

8. A series cut-out comprising a body having an open bottom, two lamp cable contacts secured to said body, two main cable contacts secured to said body in olfset relation to said first named contacts and tending to engage each other to torni a circuit around a lamp circuit, auxiliary contacts associated with said main cable contacts, cable leads connected to said contacts entering said body through said open bottom and means for causing separation of said main cable contacts and causing engagement between associated lamp and main cable contact-s to complete the lamp circuit before. said auxiliary contacts are separated to prevent arcing.

9. A series cut-out comprising a body, two lamp cable contacts secured to said body, two main cable contacts secured to said body tending to engage each other to form a cir cuit around a lamp circuit, means for `causing separation of said main cable contacts to complete the lamp circuit at said lamp cable contacts, and means for locking in position said last-mentioned means.

10. A series cutout comprising a body having an open bottom, two lamp cable contacts secured to said body, two main cable contacts secured to said body in oliset relation to said irst named contacts and tending to engage each other to form a circuit around a lamp circuit and extending between said lamp cable contacts, cable leads connected to said Contacts entering said body through said open bottom and a plug for insertion between said main cable contacts for separating them and pressing them into engagement with the associated lamp cable contacts to complete the lamp circuit.

11. A series cut-out comprising a body, two lamp cable contacts secured to said body, two main cable contacts secured to said body and tending to engage each other to form a circuit around a lamp circuit and extending between said lamp cable contacts, a plug for insertion between said mam cable contacts for separating them and pressing them into engagement with the associated lamp cable contacts to complete the lamp circuit, and means for locking said plug in operative position.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a housing open at the base thereof, a plurality of contacts secured therein, pairs of said contacts being secured in offset vertical planes, and means adapted to cause connection between contacts in the diierent planes.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination with an insulating housing open at the base thereof, a pair ot main contacts secured therein, a pair of circuit contacts secured therein, said pairs being secured in dierent vertical planes, and means connected to said first named contacts and normally causing connection between co-planar contacts and adapted to contact said second named contacts to thereby cause electrical connection between associated contacts in different planes and to thereby disconnect said co-planar contacts.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with an insulating housing open only at the base thereof, a pair of main contacts secured to cables extending therein, a flexible contact means associated with said contacts to normally electrically connect said contacts, a pair of contacts secured to cables Ydisposed on the opposite side ot said means, insulating means adapted to operate said first named means to cause electrical connection between pairs of said cables disposed on opposite sides of said iirst named means and to cause electrical disconnection between said main contacts, and a lock to prevent disengagement of said last named means.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 13th day of May, 1925.

VPAUL F. WILLIAMS. 

